AbstractThe main purpose of this study was to develop and propose an alternative funding model(AFM) for public sector libraries in Pakistan which have always been under-financed. To achieve this objectives the researcher adopted a multi-phase research process. In the first phase, a comprehensive literature review conducted,. The areas covered in the review of literature include funding situation of public, academic and special libraries in developed countries, developing countries and Pakistan; causes and effects of, and response to , finding crisis in libraries; methods for alternative funding being used in libraries including fees for library service and fundraising; an model formulation in library and information science. Based on the review of literature instruments were developed for library survey and interviews.

In the second phase, data were collected about funding situation of libraries in Pakistan and possibilities of alternative funding in the country. For this purpose, a survey of large libraries was conducted. A sample of 100 university, college, public and special libraries of public sector throughout the county having a collection of at least 25,000 volumes was selected randomly. Data collected from 60 libraries that responded were analyzed. An other data collection tool that was used is interview. Sixty experts in the field of librarianship from eight major cities were selected for this purpose. Data were collected from 48 expert with the help of an interview schedule. The interviews were recorded on audio tape recorder.

Based on the findings of the previous two phase, a draft model for alternative funding for libraries in Pakistan was developed which was presented for validation before national and international experts in the field of library science. The comments of 21 experts were qualitatively analyzed, and on the basis of that, necessary amendments were made in the alternative funding model (AFM) before its final presentation.

This study has found out the funding of libraries in Pakistan is not according to a well thought systematic process ; all types of libraries are dissatisfied with their present policies of the government are two reasons for library under â€“finding; due to poor standard of collection and services libraries do not enjoy a good reputation in the Pakistan society; activities for seeking library funding from alternative sources are not many in the country; most of the library have no plans for seeking alternative funding; there is a potential in the Pakistani society for raisin library funds from alternative sources; and, library leadership in the country and policies of the government are two reason for library under-financing; due to poor standard of collection and services libraries do not enjoy a good reputation in the Pakistani society; activities for seeking library finding funding from alternative sources are not many in the country; most of the libraries have no plans for seeking alternative funding; there is a potential in the Pakistani society for raising library funds from alternative sources; and, library leadership in the country is in favor of fee-based services but everyone advocates for a core service to be offered free of charge as a basic right of the citizen.

The alternative funding model(AFM) proposed in this study demands an overhauling of the library system in the country as no fundraising model can succeed in Pakistani society unless the image of library is changed to be commensurate with the needs of information society. Based on general system theory the AFM proposed special inputs, processes and feedback mechanism to get effective output. Alternative funding for libraries, according to the Model, revolves around two types of activities(a0 fee-based services, and (b) fundraising. Leadership skill of library staff and the use of modern information technology in libraries can play a vital role in the success of the proposed AFM.